THE BEGUILEMENT OF KID CURRY - Chapter One

The job had been a mistake.

If they had only taken the time to think it completely through…

Kid Curry had been swept away by Hannibal's Heyes' excitement of riding an elegant river gambling boat churning up the Mississippi River. He assured Kid there would be high rollers with more money than sense. He was confident he could lighten many of the players of their money, but first they needed a substantial amount of money for the buy-in.

The job sounded easy enough; half the money up front, transport the package and collect the remaining half. But they should have known from experience that any of Big Mac's easy jobs ended up the complete opposite.

A change of scenery, with little chance of being recognized, he said. And they had bought into it, especially when cash was waved under their noses. Swearing again that this would be the last time...

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The Mississippi River was more impressive than they imagined. The Port of Louisiana was a bustling hub of ferries, barges, and ships. They boarded the low bottomed barge with the horses south of Baton Rouge where the river was the shallowest and were poled across to the other side. There was a sense of urgency, as Heyes couldn't wait to finish their job for Big Mac. He was more than ready to board the fancy gambling boat, paddle up the great Mississippi with Mark Twain whispering in his ear.

But as they continued their trek on horseback, there was a growing uneasiness and quietness as they rode deeper into scenery that still bore the deep, unhealed scars of the War. Heyes had stopped his incessant talking about the boat, and rode quietly next to Kid, occasionally urging his horse with a spur to quicken his pace. Heyes caught a glimpse of Kid's face, solemn, unable to hide his building discomfort and pain.

One more hard day of riding and they would reach their final destination, but Heyes knew that wasn't dominating Kid's thoughts. He let Kid control what little conversation they had over their nightly meal. Heyes was both disappointed and relieved when Kid, after finishing his meal, readied for bed.

Heyes woke to Kid's cries. He was still asleep but mumbling and thrashing under his blanket, now twisted around his body. Heyes lay a hand on Kid's shoulder, shaking him gently awake. He stared into his partner's wild frightened eyes. Kid swallowed hard as he struggled to sit up. His face had reverted to that of a young boy that had lost everything. Heyes looked sympathetically at his cousin. He felt the same pain as the childhood memories washed over him. Heyes and Kid locked eyes for a long moment. With a heavy sigh, Kid dropped his head. Heyes affectionately squeezed his partner's shoulder.

"It don't let go." Kid said sadly.

"Not around here...where everything is a constant reminder."

"Even after all these years…." Kid could smell the smoke from the gunpowder, fire and the coppery smell of blood, as if it were yesterday.

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Back on the trail, Kid turned in his saddle and looked behind them.

"You feel like…"

"We're being watched...Yes." Heyes finished, staring at the three men with their guns pointed at them as they rounded the curve in the road.

The men were gaunt and a ragged looking bunch. They still wore the partial remnants of old Confederate uniforms.

"Guns! Now!" The one man said, moving his horse several steps forward.

Kid and Heyes exchanged quick glances before both reached slowly for their weapons.

Kid pulled his gun from his holster and held it out, offering it to the man.

"You're not going to make yourself rich by robbing us." Heyes said pleading his case.

The man in the lead eyes flicked to Heyes, giving Kid enough time to spin the gun in his hand and start firing.

Heyes yanked his horse so hard to the left, that it reared throwing his aim off. Only one man was able to get a shot off before he was struck down along with his partners. Kid had quickly dismounted to make sure all the men were dead.

"Damn Heyes if we had come all this way and lost that package from Big Mac…" He stopped and straightened up quickly, spinning around to see Heyes bent over his saddle clutching his leg. Blood was streaming through his fingers.

"HEYES!"

Kid rushed to his partner's side. Heyes grimaced and cried out in pain as Kid pressed his hands tightly over the wound, trying frantically to stop the bleeding, but to no avail. He quickly untied Heyes' bandana and worked it under Heyes' leg and tied it tightly to his upper thigh. The blood slowed but did not stop. Kid ran to the thick vegetation lining the dirt road and grabbed a small branch. He hurried back and knotted it into the bandana and started twisting it. He could hear Heyes' breathing quicken as he moaned in pain.

"Hang on Heyes. Hang on."

Kid quickly gathered his reins and led his horse to Heyes' looping the reins over the saddle horn. He slipped Heyes' foot out of the stirrup, and placed his in it, taking a seat behind the cantle. He leaned forward and pulled Heyes upright so his body was resting on Kid's chest. Kid wrapped his right arm around Heyes to steady him and gathered the reins in his left and urged the horse forward.

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At first glance Kid wasn't sure the once stately house was even inhabitable, until he spotted a faint light in the waning light.

An old rusted locked gate blocked them from riding up the tree lined drive. The border of the property was impassable with tangled vegetation and a long ago broken down wire fence embedded deep within the overgrown kudzu. Kid estimated that he and Heyes could squeeze between the twin gates, since one sat askew from a broken support.

Kid dropped the reins and steadied Heyes in the saddle before he quickly dismounted.

As he reached for Heyes, he collapsed into Kid's arms.

Kid was frantic as he struggled to drag Heyes through the narrow opening. Kid finally managed to maneuver his partner through the gate. One of Heyes' arms was thrown over Kid's shoulder, while Kid's other arm was wrapped tightly around his partner's waist. Heyes was barely conscious but tried with the little strength he had to help. His injured leg dragged uselessly behind him. His blue bandana was tied tightly around his upper thigh serving as a tourniquet, although his tan pants were slowly darkening with blood.

Kid was forced to stop, as he gasped for air in the hot night summer heat. He felt Heyes' knee weaken and buckle, almost pulling them both to the ground. Kid readjusted Heyes weight, and headed up the long drive to the house.

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Kid set Heyes down on the large wraparound porch propping him in a corner. Heyes' head rolled forward onto his chest. He was unconscious. Kid repeatedly banged on the door.

"HELP! I NEED HELP"

Finally a female voice called out, "Go away! There is no help here. Go away!"

"My cousin has been shot. He needs attention. Please"

"I said go away." He heard hushed whispers behind the closed doors.

With a heavy boot Kid kicked the door in, his gun clutched in his right hand

The woman was standing in her nightdress and robe holding a shotgun.

Several young girls who had been scrambling up the stairs, froze. Their eyes were wide with fright, as they clutched their robes tightly to their chests.

"I said there is no help here," The older woman hissed.

"Ma'am. I don't mean you no harm. I just need medical attention for my cousin."

"Your gun says different."

"Ma'am, I'm that desperate." There was genuine fear and desperation in his blue eyes.

"Please" he pleaded.

"I'll shoot if you don't leave."

"No you won't. Your gun ain't loaded."

The woman gave Kid a long hard stare before slowly lowering the shotgun.

"Well it seems like I've got no choice."

"I'm sorry," Kid apologized.

He holstered his gun and stepped outside and picked the unconscious Heyes up, dragging him through the doorway. His eyes quickly looked up the stairs. The young girls on the stairs had disappeared. The older woman reluctantly propped the shotgun against the wall and motioned Kid to follow her to a room. Kid waited outside the open door as the woman moved from lamp to lamp.

She removed the quilt covering the bed and quickly folded it neatly, kissed it and placed it on a chair. She motioned for Kid to come in, as she drew back the covers and stepped back allowing Kid to move Heyes to the bed. Kid noticed the well worn bible by the bed.

"Don't," She warned Kid as he reached to remove the bandana tourniquet.

"Use your knife and cut his pants off."

Kid quickly cut the pants along the seams, pulling back remnants, revealing the ugly leg wound.

"Stay in this room," the woman said, "If you want my help you have to stay in this room. I will not have you frightening my girls."

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The woman returned with water, cloth and an old battered medical bag. She nodded at Kid to remove the bible from the nightstand so she could put the supplies down.

"With care. Please...with care. You may put it on the quilt."

"You have a name? The woman asked as she began tending to Heyes.

"Thaddeus." Kid said quickly, his attention focused on Heyes.

"Thaddeus. One of the Twelve Apostles. And your...Did you say he's kin?"

"Cousin."

"Does your cousin have a name?"

"Joshua"

"Joshua...the savior. Good Christian names. Are your and Joshua's parents' church going…"

"Dead." Kid said. He couldn't hide the irritation in his voice.

The woman paused to look up at Kid, "All of them?"

Kid could only nod.

"During the War Between The States?"

"Yes...the Civil War."

"You all must be Northerners," The woman said with some disdain, "But I thought I caught a hint of a southern accent in your voice."

"Been to Philadelphia once.. This is only my second trip across the Mississippi River."

Kid wasn't in the mood for talk and wanted the woman to shut up and focus on Heyes' care.

"Fortunately for Joshua the bullet passed through his leg, unfortunately it appears to be broken. The concern here in the south is infection. You never told me how this happened, although these are desperate times for people who lost everything. Survival means causing men to do ungodly things." She gave Kid a hard look, before returning her attention back to Heyes.

"Ma'am I don't know how many times I can apologize, but when it comes to Joshua, there ain't nothing I wouldn't do for him. So iffing you want me to keep apologizing I will, so you'll understand how much I appreciate this and I mean you and your daughters no harm."

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Author's Notes: This story will be a AS&J crossover story with the Clint Eastwood 1971 movie "The Beguiled". Thanks to Kathy for the idea, inspiration, seed, etc. My apologies for hurting Heyes again...My only defense is "You hurt the one you love."